Around 2 million ewes and lambs are grazing in Norwegian rangeland every summer. In 2017, compensation was paid for 18 350 (0.9 %) of these as taken by protected large carnivores. 17 374 semi-domestic reindeer were also compensated. Most sheep are depredated by wolverines and lynx, whereas wolverines, lynx and golden eagle kill the most reindeer.
Norwegian large carnivore policy has a two-folded goal: To ensure both viable carnivore populations and sustainable grazing industries. The method is a geographically differentiated management strategy. Management zones offering protection for lynx, wolverine, bear and wolf now cover 55 % of the Norwegian mainland. 30 % of the sheep and 50 % of the Saami reindeer grazing areas are found inside this management area. The utilization of the outfield grazing capacity is 59 % in outside, but only 26 % inside the carnivore management zones. The utilization of outfield pasture resources is very low in bear and wolf management zones.
The loss of grazing livestock due to predation by large carnivores in Norway has decreased over the last years, also within carnivore management zones. However, documented losses due to wolf and golden eagle are increasing. Sheep and reindeer farmers in regions falling within zones of three or more carnivore species are most prone to livestock damages. The total carnivore pressure on the grazing industry is linked to the sizes of the carnivore populations, the combination of carnivore species and the distance to Sweden, where populations of wolves and bears are far bigger.
Within carnivore zones, especially in regions with wolves or bears, the number of sheep on free range is decreasing. Additionally, mitigation measures that separate livestock and carnivores in time and/or space are implemented, e.g. electric fencing, infield pasturing and early gathering. In areas with less carnivore pressure, sheep farming is increasing. Consequently, most of the sheep (and reindeer) losses due to carnivores are found as a spill-over effect in the border areas, 30 - 50 km outside the carnivore zones, where sheep are still grazing at open mountain and forest ranges. Thus, there is a need for more effective mitigation measures in the border areas around the management zones.
Although there is inadequate data on number of semi-domestic reindeer killed by large carnivores, there is concurrence between the presence of large carnivores and the most vulnerable periods for the reindeer, particularly during calving season and late winter when the grazing access is low.
There is a need for more exact carnivore population monitoring to quantify the carnivore pressure, better documentation of reindeer losses and higher acceptance of mitigation measures amongst stakeholders. Furthermore, we suggest exclusion of the best alpine sheep grazing areas and reindeer calving areas from the lynx management zones, more formalized boarder zones and management of these, considerations of compensation for not being able to use outfield pastures, as well as increased involvement of social sciences as helpful measures.
Topics: Management of Human-Wildlife Conflicts: Large Carnivores in Europe
